Determining the number of continuing education (CE) hours required to renew a nurse practitioner license (NP) and understanding practice authority can be confusing. Very often, the NP is required to meet several requirements to renew, including CEs for their registered nurse (RN) license, NP license and national certification(s). Additionally, every state and/or territory maintains different requirements.
The following table dictates NP practice authority and license renewal requirements in each state. Keep in mind that some states only use national certification requirements to renew, but most require RN, NP, and national certification CE requirements to keep a license valid. It is always best to advocate by visiting the state board of nursing website (listed below), to confirm all requirements for license renewal and rules related to full, reduced, and restricted practice authority of NPs.
*Contact hours in specific topics may be required. Please contact your state Board of Nursing for current information.
*Information presented in the following table is obtained from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).
| State | Nurse Practice Act | Regulatory Structure | NP Regulatory Agency | Licensing Requirement | Continuing Education |
| Alabama | Nurse Practice Act: AL ST § 34-21-80 | Reduced Practice | Board of Nursing and the Board of Medical Examiners | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | Twenty-four CE contact hours are required every two years. Additional hours are required to maintain national certification, which varies by certification held. |
| Alaska | Nurse Practice Act: AS § 08.68.010 | Full Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | Thirty CE hours are required every two years. Additional hours are required to maintain national certification, which varies by certification held. |
| Arizona | Nurse Practice Act: A.R.S. § 32-1601 | Full Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | National certification CE requirements satisfy statue. |
| Arkansas | Nurse Practice Act: A.C.A. § 17-87-102 | Reduced Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | National certification CE requirements satisfy statue. |
| California | Nurse Practice Act: CA BUS & PROF Code 2700 *Proposed Full Practice Authority by 2023 |
Reduced Practice | Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) | Requirements include an RN license and a graduate degree in an NP role. National certification and, if applicable, any supplemental examination developed by California state agencies may also be required for NPs in select settings. See BRN for details. | Thirty CE hours are required during every two-year period. Additional hours are required to maintain national certification, which varies by certification held. |
| Colorado | Nurse Practice Act: C.R.S.A. § 12-38-101 | Full Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | CE hours are required in accordance with national certification requirements. |
| Connecticut | Nurse Practice Act: C.R.S.A. § 12-38-101 | Full Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | CE hours are required in accordance with national certification requirements. |
| Delaware | Nurse Practice Act: 24 Del.C. § 1901 and 1934 | Reduced Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | NPs with prescriptive authority must complete 10 CE hours of pharmacology/pharmacotherapeutics every two years in addition to specific RN requirements. See BON for more details. Additional hours are required to maintain national certification, which varies by certification held. |
| Florida | Nurse Practice Act: F.S.A. § 464.001 | Restricted Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | NPs may submit 30 contact hours per two-year licensure cycle or meet CE requirements as needed for national certification. NPs who meet select criteria must complete additional hours. See BON for more details. |
| Georgia | Nurse Practice Act: Ga. Code Ann., § 43-26-1 | Restricted Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | CE and practice hours are to be completed in accordance with the Board of Nursing requirements. Additional hours are required to maintain national certification, which varies by certification held. |
| Hawaii | Nurse Practice Act: HRS § 457-1 | Full Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | Thirty CE contact hours are required every two years. Additional hours are required to maintain national certification, which varies by certification held. |
| Idaho | Nurse Practice Act: I.C. § 54-1401 | Full Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | Thirty CE contact hours are required every two years. See the BON for details. Additional hours are required to maintain national certification, which varies by certification held. |
| Illinois | Nurse Practice Act: 225 ILCS 65/50-1 | Reduced Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | Eighty CE contact hours are required every two years. Additional hours are required to maintain national certification, which varies by certification held. |
| Indiana | Nurse Practice Act: IC 25-23 | Reduced Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | Thirty CE hours are required every two years. Additional hours are required to maintain national certification, which varies by certification held. |
| Iowa | Nurse Practice Act: I.C.A. § 152 | Full Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | CE hours are required in accordance with national certification requirements. |
| Kansas | Nurse Practice Act: K.S.A. 65-1113 | Reduced Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license and a graduate degree in an NP role. | Thirty CE hours are required every two years. Additional hours are required to maintain national certification, which varies by certification held. |
| Kentucky | Nurse Practice Act: KRS § 314.011 | Reduced Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | Specific CE hours and content areas required. See the BON for details. Additional hours are required to maintain national certification, which varies by certification held. |
| Louisiana | Nurse Practice Act: LSA-R.S. 37:911 | Reduced Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | NPs with prescriptive authority are required to obtain six CE hours annually in pharmacotherapeutics. Additional hours are required to maintain national certification, which varies by certification held. |
| Maine | Nurse Practice Act: 32 M.R.S.A. § 2101 | Full Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, graduation from an NP program and national certification. | Fifty CE hours are required every two years. Additional hours are required to maintain national certification, which varies by certification held.
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| Maryland | Nurse Practice Act: MD Code, Health Occupations, § 8-101 | Full Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, graduation from an NP program and national certification. | CE hours as required for national certification. |
| Massachusetts | Nurse Practice Act: M.G.L.A. 112 § 74 | Full Practice | Board of Registration in Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | Fifteen CE hours are required every two years. Additional hours may be required for NPs who prescribe controlled substances. Additional hours are required to maintain national certification, which varies by certification held. |
| Michigan | Nurse Practice Act: M.C.L.A. 333.17201 | Restricted Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | CE hours as required for national certification. |
| Minnesota | Nurse Practice Act: M.S.A. § 148.171 | Full Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | In addition to CE hours required for national certification, NPs must meet RN requirements for 24 CE hours every two years. Additional hours are required to maintain national certification, which varies by certification held. |
| MIssissippi | Nurse Practice Act: Mississippi Code Ann. § 73-15-1 | Reduced Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | Forty CE hours are required every two years. Additional hours are required to maintain national certification, which varies by certification held. |
| MIssouri | Nurse Practice Act: V.A.M.S. 335.011 | Restricted Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, graduation from an NP program and national certification. | CE hours as required for the national certification process. |
| Montana | Nurse Practice Act: MCA 37-8-101 | Full Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, graduation from an NP program and national certification. | Twenty-four CE hours are required every two years. See the BON for details. Additional hours are required to maintain national certification, which varies by certification held. |
| Nebraska | Nurse Practice Act: NebraskaRev.St. § 38-2301 | Full Practice | Board of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | Forty CE hours are required every two years. |
| Nevada | Nurse Practice Act: NRS 632.005 | Full Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | Forty-five CE hours are required every two years. |
| New Hampshire | Nurse Practice Act: NH ST § 326-B | Full Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | In addition to completing RN CE requirements, 30 CE hours are required every two years. |
| New Jersey | Nurse Practice Act: N.J.S.A. 45:11-23 | Reduced Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, graduation from an NP program and national certification. | In addition to completing 30 hours of RN CE requirements, NPs must complete CE as required for national certification and CE related to specific issues. |
| New Mexico | Nurse Practice Act: NM ST § 61-3 | Full Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | In addition to completing CE requirements in accordance with national certification, 50 CE hours are required every two years |
| New York | Nurse Practice Act: NY EDUC § 6900 | Reduced Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include a graduate degree in an NP role or national certification and an RN license. | Those nationally certified must maintain CE hours in accordance with national certification requirements, and those registered with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to prescribe controlled substances must take three CE hours every three years in pain management, palliative care and addiction. |
| North Carolina | Nurse Practice Act: N.C.G.S.A. Chapter 90, Article 9A | Restricted Practice | Board of Nursing (BON) and the Medical Board | Requirements include an RN license and national certification. | Fifty CE hours are required yearly. |
| North Dakota | Nurse Practice Act: NDCC, 43-12.1 | Full Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | Fifteen CE hours are required every two years in pharmacology for NPs with prescriptive authority; for others, evidence of current national certification is required. See the BON for details. |
| Northern Mariana Islands | Nurse Practice Act: 3 CMC §§ 2301 | Full Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | Thirty contact hours are required every two years. |
| Ohio | Nurse Practice Act: R.C. § 4723 | Reduced Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | Twenty-four CE hours are required every two years. |
| Oklahoma | Nurse Practice Act: 59 Okl.St.Ann. § 567.1 | Restricted Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | Fifteen hours every two years and fifteen specific online courses. Contact the BON for requirements. |
| Oregon | Nurse Practice Act: O.R.S. § 678 | Full Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | Forty-five CE hours are required every two years. |
| Pennsylvania | Nurse Practice Act: 63 P.S. § 211 | Reduced Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | Thirty CE hours are required every two years. |
| Puerto Rico | Nurse Practice Act: 20 L.P.R.A., Chapter 9a | Reduced Practice | Board of Nurse Examiners | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | Thirty contact hours are required every three years. |
| Rhode Island | Nurse Practice Act: RI ST § 5-34-1.1 | Full Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | Ten CE hours are required every two years. |
| South Carolina | Nurse Practice Act: Code 1976 § 40-33-5 | Restricted Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | Thirty CE hours required every two years. |
| South Dakota | Nurse Practice Act: SDCL § 36-9 and SDCL § 36-9A | Full Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license and national certification. | CE hours are to be completed in accordance with national certification requirements. |
| Tennessee | Nurse Practice Act: T.C.A. § 63-7 | Restricted Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | In addition to CE hours required for national certification, NPs with prescriptive authority must maintain additional CE hours in controlled substance prescribing. |
| Texas | Nurse Practice Act: V.T.C.A., Occupations Code Chapter 301 | Restricted Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | CE requirements can be met by complying with national certification or by meeting specific BON requirements. |
| US Virgin Islands | Nurse Practice Act: 27 V.I.C. § 91 | Reduced Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | Sixty contact hours of CE are required every two years. |
| Utah | Nurse Practice Act: U.C.A. 1953 § 58-31b-101 | Reduced Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | CE hours are to be completed in accordance with national certification requirements. |
| Vermont | Nurse Practice Act: 26 V.S.A. § 1571 | Full Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | CE requirements are completed in accordance with national certification requirements. NPs with prescriptive authority must complete two hours on controlled substances every two years. |
| Virginia | Nurse Practice Act: VA Code Ann. § 54.1-Chapter 30 | Restricted Practice | Board of Nursing (BON) and Board of Medicine | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | CE hours are to be completed in accordance with national certification requirements, and for NPs with prescriptive authority, an additional eight hours are required every two years. |
| Washington | Nurse Practice Act: RCWA 18.79 | Full Practice | Nursing Commission | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | Thirty CE hours are required every two years, and for NPs with prescriptive authority, an additional 15 CE hours are required during that time period. |
| West Virginia | Nurse Practice Act: West Virginia Code, § 30-7-1 | Reduced Practice | Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | Twenty-four CE hours are required every two years. |
| Wisconsin | Nurse Practice Act: W.S.A. 441.001 | Reduced Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | Sixteen CE hours are required every two years. |
| Wyoming | Nurse Practice Act: W.S.1977 § 33-21-119 | Full Practice | Board of Nursing | Requirements include an RN license, a graduate degree in an NP role and national certification. | NPs must complete CE as required for national certification and complete three hours related to prescribing controlled substances to maintain prescriptive authority. |